Man "deliberately" stood in truck's way at SRP, dies

CEBU, Philippines - A young man believed to be mentally ill died after he was hit by a cargo truck on the South Road Properties last Monday afternoon.

Witnesses and the driver, Efren Impas, believed that the victim who remains unidentified as of press time, deliberately crossed the road to get hit by the truck.

The victim is described to be about 20 to 25 years old and stood 5’5 tall. He wore a white shirt and gray shorts.

In an interview with City Traffic investigator SPO4 Ramon Budiongan, Impas, he said, was traveling bound for Talisay City when the victim suddenly crossed the road at 3 pm last Monday.

Impas tried applying the breaks but was too late. In a phone interview with The Freeman, he said he was still several meters away when he saw the young man standing at the right side of the road.

The cargo truck was already near the area where the victim was standing when the latter allegedly crossed the road suddenly. Impas tried maneuvering to the left side to avoid the victim but the latter allegedly even went to the same direction.

“Mahug gyud nga gituyo to niya og paligis kay milikay unta ko pero misabay pud siya kun asa ko liko,” the driver said.

Impas was mulling over on what to do while trying to help the victim when a man driving a motorcycle passed by and told him to just continue driving because the victim was mentally disturbed.

“Naa siguro na siya’y deperensya kay ang drayber sa motor nga nakaagi nako miana man nga ‘Bay, diretso na lang kay buang nang tawhana’” Impas quoted the man saying.

Impas opted to proceed to the Waterfront Police Station and voluntarily surrendered.

Enforcers from the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) then submitted him to an investigation.

Budiongan said not a single person has gone to their office yet to claim the victim.

The police officer said they will release Impas from the detention cell 36 hours since the incident should anyone fail to claim the victim.    - THE FREEMAN